Swing-away mailbox support

Abstract

An improved mailbox support (10) includes a sectional post (12) interconnected by a resilient coupling (20). The coupling (20) includes a cam (22) and an adjustable internal primary spring (24), and an optional external secondary spring (32)

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mailbox support, comprising: an upright post having upper and lower sections, each section having top and bottom ends;   the bottom end of the upper section of said post being received by the top end of the lower section thereof for relative rotation about a longitudinal axis;   cam means secured between the upper and lower sections of said post for supporting the upper section for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis between displaced and nondisplaced positions;   a tension spring extending within said post, said tension spring having two ends, one end thereof being secured to the lower section of said post;   means accessible from outside said post, said adjustably interconnecting the other end of said tension spring to the upper section of said post in order to normally bias the upper section of said post toward the non-displaced position; and   means for supporting at leas tone mailbox on the upper section of said post in raised and laterally spaced relation with the lower section thereof.   
     
     
       2. The mailbox support of claim 1, wherein said post is formed from metal pipe sections. 
     
     
       3. The mailbox support of claim 1, wherein said cam means comprises generally circular collars respectively secured to the upper and lower sections of said post and defining a cam surface therebetween inclined at a pre-determined angle. 
     
     
       4. The mailbox support according to claim 3, wherein the angle of inclination is about 30 degrees. 
     
     
       5. A mailbox support, comprising: an upright post having upper and lower sections, each section having top and bottom ends;   the bottom end of the upper section of said post being received by the top end of the lower section thereof for relative rotation about a longitudinal axis;   cam means secured between the upper and lower sections of said post for supporting the upper section for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis between displaced and nondisplaced positions;   a tension spring extending within said post, said tension spring having two ends, one end thereof being secured to the lower section of said post;   means for adjustably interconnecting the other end of said tension spring to the upper section of said post in order to normally bias the upper section of said post towrd the non-displaced position;   said means for adjustably interconnecting said tension spring to the upper section of said post including a bolt having a head and a shank extending through a hole in the upper section of said post into threaded engagement with said tension spring; and   means for supporting at least one mailbox on the upper section of said post in raised and laterally spaced relation with the lower section thereof.   
     
     
       6. The mailbox support of claim 1, further including: a shear pin extending through registering openings in the overlapping ends of the upper and lower sections of said post.   
     
     
       7. The mailbox support of claim 1, further including: a grease fitting secured in an access hole in the top end of the lower section of said post.   
     
     
       8. The mailbox support of claim 1, wherein the lower section of said post includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced break away holes near the bottom end thereof. 
     
     
       9. The mailbox support of claim 1, further including: adapter means secured to the bottom end of the lower section of said post for connection to another post of different size.   
     
     
       10. A mailbox support, comprising: an upright post having hollow upper and lower sections, each section having top and bottom ends;   the bottom end of the upper section of said post being telescopically received within the top end of the lower section thereof for relative rotation about an upright longitudinal axis;   cam means secured between the upper and lower sections of said post for supporting the upper section for rotational movement between displaced and non-displaced positions;   a transverse bolt for securing one end of said internal tension spring to the lower section of said post;   a longitudinal bolt for adjusting tension in said internal tension spring;   said longitudinal bolt including an external head, a shank extending through a hole in the upper section of said post, and a threaded end engaged with the other end of said internal tension spring;   an external spring extending between said transverse bolt and said longitudinal bolt; and   means for securing a mailbox to the upper section of said post.   
     
     
       11. The mailbox support of claim 10, further including: a shear pin extending through registering openings in the overlapping ends of the upper and lower sections of said post.   
     
     
       12. The mailbox support of claim 10, further including: a grease fitting secured in an access hole in the top end of the lower section of said post.   
     
     
       13. The mailbox support of claim 10, wherein the lower section of said post includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced break away holes near the bottom end thereof. 
     
     
       14. The mailbox support of claim 10, further including: adapter means secured to the bottom end of the lower section of said post for connection to another post of different size.